Trump Attacks NATO Over Iran, Israel Support

President Donald Trump criticized NATO allies for what he called a lack of support for the US-Israel war on Iran, as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed and global markets are disrupted.

Trump Criticizes NATO Allies Over Iran Conflict

NATO countries are “COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER!” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform on Friday.

The US president complained that NATO countries did not support the fight against Iran, yet express concern over high oil prices. He stated that now that the conflict is “militarily WON, with very little danger for them,” they complain about oil prices but are unwilling to help open the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump has called for major US allies and others to help secure shipping through the Iran-controlled Strait of Hormuz. The conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths and millions displaced since US-Israeli strikes began on February 28.

The United Kingdom announced Friday it would allow the US to use its bases to target Iran for the “collective self-defence of the region.” Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office stated ministers condemned Iran’s expansion of targets to include international shipping and confirmed the agreement allows US defensive operations to degrade missile sites targeting ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

NATO announced Friday it was “adjusting” its mission in Iraq after officials said the non-combat force had been temporarily withdrawn due to the war with Iran. Alliance spokesperson Allison Hart confirmed the adjustment to NATO Mission Iraq. US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s supreme allied commander Europe, confirmed the relocation of all NATO Iraq mission personnel to Europe.

French President Emmanuel Macron said after a two-day European Union summit in Brussels that defending international law and promoting de-escalation was “the best we can do,” adding he had “not heard anyone here express a willingness to enter this conflict – quite the opposite.”

‘No consensus’ on oil prices

The European Union summit in Brussels was largely focused on the fallout from the war on Iran, particularly in the energy market. The EU has not “reached any consensus on measures that are going to be taken by the body as a whole,” according to Al Jazeera’s Step Vaessen, reporting from Brussels.

Vaessen reported the European Central Bank announced it would cut growth forecasts and raise inflation predictions in the coming months, leading to expectations of very high energy costs in the EU. Discussions included reforming an energy trading system, but no consensus was reached.